Motor mounting arrangement on a mixing auger

Abstract

In a concrete production system, an improved aggregates conveying apparatus includes an aggregates drag conveyor having a lower, conveying run which drags aggregates along a centrally-located, common trough shared by separate fine and coarse aggregates hoppers to a discharge end and an upper, return run which moves through a hollow channel formed in a common wall separating the hoppers above the common trough. An improved cement metering apparatus in the system includes a cement conveyor mounted along a trough below the cement hopper so as to make an endless path around a floor of the trough. Baffle gates at each end of the floor coact with the conveyor to prevent inadvertent flow of cement past the ends of the floor and to only permit metered flow of the cement from the discharge end of the trough. The fine and coarse aggregates, and the cement discharge into a mixing auger where, after water is added, they are mixed into concrete before discharge from the auger. An improved mounting arrangement supports the motor which powers the mixing auger on the inboard end of the auger, while another improved arrangement mounts the mixing auger at a corner of the chassis mounting the system for pivotal movement between raised and lowered positions and swinging movement between side and transverse rear positions.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a concrete production system including an elongated mixing trough having an inboard end and an opposite outboard discharge end, a mixing member disposed in said trough and mounted between said inboard and outboard ends, and a motor having a rotatable output shaft for driving said mixing member, said trough being pivotally supported at its inboard end for movement between operating and storage positions, said mixing member in said trough receiving fine and coarse aggregates, cement and water at said inboard end and causing mixing of the same into concrete while conveying them toward said outboard discharge end when said trough is in said operating position, an improved motor mounting arrangement which comprises: (a) a mounting frame connected at one end to said inboard end of said mixing trough and at an opposite end mounting said motor with its output shaft extending toward said trough inboard end; and   (b) a coupler shaft assembly disposed between, and rotatably interconnecting, said motor and said trough inboard end for drivingly coupling said motor output shaft to said mixing member to transmit rotary motion thereto, said assembly including an annular element interposed between said motor and said trough inboard end and operable to substantially shield said motor from contact by water and other residue emanating from said mixing trough;   (c) said mounting frame including a cylindrical hollow central sleeve being aligned with said output shaft of said motor such that said output shaft extends therethrough and beyond said sleeve;   (d) said coupler shaft assembly including a central shaft extending between said trough inboard end and said central sleeve of said mounting frame, said central shaft at one end being interfitted with said mixing member and at an opposite end interfitted with said motor output shaft and transmitting rotary motion of the latter to said mixing member;   (e) said annular element of said coupler shaft assembly being disposed along and attached about said central shaft at said opposite end thereof adjacent said central sleeve of said mounting frame.   
     
     
       2. The concrete production system as recited in claim 1, wherein said coupler shaft assembly includes; a hub with a central bore mounted on said trough inboard end; and   said central shaft extending through said hub and being rotatable relative thereto.   
     
     
       3. The concrete production system as recited in claim 2, wherein said annular element of said coupler shaft assembly is in the form of a spinner plate attached about said central shaft for rotation therewith. 
     
     
       4. The concrete production system as recited in claim 2, wherein said coupler assembly further includes: a rubber seal disposed about said central shaft adjacent said hub; and   a pressure plate attached to said hub and squeezing said rubber seal therebetween for sealing said bore of said hub.   
     
     
       5. In a concrete production system including an elongated mixing trough having an inboard end and an opposite outboard discharge end, a mixing member disposed in said trough and mounted between said inboard and outboard ends, and a motor having a rotatable output shaft for driving said mixing member, said trough being pivotally supported at its inboard end for movement between operating and storage positions, said mixing member in said trough receiving fine and coarse aggregates, cement and water at said inboard end and causing mixing of the same into concrete while conveying them toward said outboard discharge end when said trough is in said operating position, an improved motor mounting arrangement which comprises: (a) a mounting frame connected at one end to said inboard end of said mixing trough and at an opposite end mounting said motor with its output shaft extending toward said trough inboard end, said mounting frame including (i) a housing formed by spaced inner and outer plates, and spaced transverse plates interconnecting and rigidly attached to said inner and outer plates,   (ii) a pair of legs connecting said inner plate to said trough inboard end, and   (iii) a cylindrical hollow central sleeve mounted between said inner and outer plates, said motor being mounted to said outer plate with its output shaft extending through said central sleeve and beyond said inner plate; and     (b) a coupler shaft assembly disposed between said motor and said trough inboard end and being interfitted with said motor output shaft and said mixing member for rotatably interconnecting and drivingly coupling said motor output shaft to said mixing member to transmit rotary motion thereto, said assembly including an annular element interposed between said motor and said trough inboard end and operable to substantially shield said motor from contact by water and other residue emanating from said mixing trough.   
     
     
       6. The concrete production system as recited in claim 5, wherein said coupler shaft assembly includes: a hub with a central bore mounted on said trough inboard end; and   a central shaft extending through said hub and interfitted at one end with said mixing member, said shaft at an opposite end interfitted with said motor output shaft and transmitting rotary motion of the latter to said mixing member.   
     
     
       7. The concrete production system as recited in claim 6, wherein said annular element of said coupler shaft assembly is in the form of a spinner plate attached about said central shaft for rotation therewith. 
     
     
       8. The concrete production system as recited in claim 6, wherein said coupler assembly further includes: a rubber seal disposed about said central shaft adjacent said hub; and   a pressure plate attached to said hub and squeezing said rubber seal therebetween for sealing said bore of said hub.   
     
     
       9. The concrete production assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein said coupler shaft assembly is located between said inner plate of said mounting frame and said inboard end of said trough adjacent said legs of said mounting frame. 
     
     
       10. The concrete production assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein said coupler shaft assembly includes: a central shaft extending between said trough inboard end and said inner plate of said mounting frame, said central shaft at one end being interfitted with said mixing member and at an opposite end interfitted with said motor output shaft and transmitting rotary motion of the latter to said mixing member.   
     
     
       11. The concrete production assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said annular element of said coupler shaft assembly is in the form of a spinner plate attached about said central shaft for rotation therewith and disposed along said shaft at said opposite end thereof adjacent said inner plate of said mounting frame. 
     
     
       12. The concrete production assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said coupler shaft assembly includes a bushing disposed about said motor output shaft and between said inner plate of said mounting frame and said spinner plate of said coupler assembly.